RNC uses professional wrestler linked to steroids to recruit volunteers

The Republican National Convention Host Committee released public-service announcements this morning featuring Minnesota Viking Matt Birk and professional wrestler Mr. Kennedy encouraging Minnesotans to volunteer for the September bash. You can watch the spot on the nonprofit group’s web site.

"We are thrilled to have Matt Birk and Mr. Kennedy participate in our volunteer effort because they understand what a unique opportunity this is for our state," said Cynthia Lesher, president of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee, in a press release announcing the recruiting tool. "We are very close to our goal of recruiting 10,000 volunteers and we know that their messages of civic pride and participation in this historic event will resonate with Minnesotans.

But as Tom Scheck points out over at Polinaut, Mr. Kennedy (a.k.a. Ken Anderson) has been implicated in investigations of illegal steroid use. Here’s the relevant passage from a Sports Illustrated article on the subject:

• Ken Anderson, a/k/a Mr. Kennedy, lost to Eddie Guerrero in Guerrero’s final match on Nov. 11, 2005. Kennedy received shipments of anastrozole, somatropin and testosterone between October 2006 and February 2007.

The Minneapolis native told the UK Sun that he gave up steroids after the WWE instituted a "wellness policy" prohibiting their use.